The best way to reduce your carbon footprint as a driver is obviously to drive less, but what if it’s not possible to bike, carpool or take public transit?  I still want to reduce the burning of precious fossil fuels, not to mention the carbon emissions, but for someone like me, walking, biking, carpooling or even taking public transit is not an option. I live in a rural area and face some pretty harsh winters.

In my eco-driving quest to find ways to cut down on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (a greenhouse gas), I found some helpful tips from EcoDriving USA™ and a well-known automobile manufacturer.  Ford offers these tips to help develop Eco-Driving habits:

1. Drive at posted speed limits. This is a tip that may save a life as well as fuel. EPA estimates a 10 to 15 percent improvement in fuel economy by driving 55 instead of 65 mph. On the highway, use cruise control whenever possible
2. Accelerate smoothly and brake gradually. Jackrabbit starts waste fuel
3. Don’t be an aggressive driver. Time studies show that fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and accelerating to and from a stop sign or traffic light don’t save much time but do waste fuel and wear out car components such as brakes and tires faster
4. Check your tires. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure. Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended pressure-this alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3 to 4 percent
5. Don’t idle for more than 30 seconds. Today’s engines don’t need to be warmed up. Prolonged idling creates excess emissions and wastes fuel. Start the car and immediately drive away
6. Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. This reduces aerodynamics and can reduce fuel economy by up to 5 percent
7. Don’t drive at higher speeds with windows wide open. It decreases vehicle aerodynamics on highways and lowers fuel economy Read More→